I started a support group and named it "Beyond the Challenge" about a year ago with a friend who also happens to have MS.  This is a support group for anyone livng with a chronic illness or condition  like MS, Fybromyalgia, Parkinson's disease, Lyme disease, Depression, Pain, Arthritis, Lupus and so on.  The philosophy behind this group is that, regardless of what our chronic condition is, we all face similar challenges in daily living.  It is not a pity party but that's not to say that there aren't times when tears are shed.  Grieving is a healthy way to heal and deal with our losses.  If your condition happens to be progressive you may experience many losses over time and we help each other through this process without pity.  There is not a single person in this group who is looking for pity.  We all come together to share information, ideas, thoughts, wishes, dreams, hopes, news, humor and lot of laughter along the way.  We meet once a month for two hours and alternate between two formats.  The first format is a guest speaker and fun night.  The second format is focused on healthy living concepts.  We  share before, during and after every meeting.  One of the main goals I'm hoping to reach with this group is forming an active circle of people who enjoy getting together for outdoor activities like horseback riding, kayaking, camping, fishing, traveling, swimming and so on.  I'm actively seeking community resources that offer these opportunities to individuals with disabilities.

I have a background in Independent Living for the differently-abled population.  I was very active in this movement prior to being diagnosed with MS.  I often think it ironic that many of the same skills I taught others are now skills I apply in my own life.  From personal care, living independently and protesting for rights, these are skills I not only taught but also learned along the way.  God does work in mysterious ways!  Yes, I will also share the presence of God in my heart, soul and spirit.  This site is not meant to be focused on religion or politics in any way.  I'm merely mentioning some of my own philosophies about life.  I'm not a churchgoer because I don't feel the need to go inside a building full of people to find God.  I find, and feel closest to God, my own higher power, in the great outdoors!

I'm a very active, energetic, independent person who happens to be living with an invisible, chronic condition.  I choose to live in the moment and my greatest joy in life at this time are my nine year old twins!  I have a son and a daughter and that was the end of that!  I was fortunate enough to get one of each the first time out.  I also enjoy building our treehouse, swimming, riding my bike, horseback riding, whitewater rafting, snowmobiling and all other outdoor type activities, some of which I can't do without some help.  My favorite place to be is in the forest in the mountains.  I carve small creatures like gnomes and wizards and walking sticks and I'm inspired by what I see in the trees in the forest!

That's all for now.  I look forward to hearing from others on my Blog.

Jo